The Shinobi World.
Land of Waves.
The battle broke out suddenly. The moment Sasuke ignored Itachi and directly attacked Otsutsuki Kinshiki, who had appeared behind Itachi, Kakashi also rushed toward Obito in the back.
"Looks like piercing your heart last time not only failed to kill you but even gave you new power, Obito."
The golden mark on Kakashi's forehead shimmered slightly, his gaze cold and steady.
After their last fight, the Obito he once knew was already dead. The Obito standing before him now was nothing more than an empty shell. Kakashi refused to see him as the same person—that would be an insult to himself and to their old team under Minato.
"Do you regret not finishing the job back then? Or do you think you went too easy on me?"
Obito's expression remained indifferent. Ever since Hyuga Hitoshi had risen to power, his life, his plans, and everything he had set in motion had turned into a complete mess. He had no idea how to fix it.
He had thought that by obtaining new power, he had finally found the truth behind strength and the shinobi world.
But now, the foreign power of the Karma mark was changing him into someone he could hardly recognize—just like his shattered heart.
Still, he wouldn't admit that.
"And I didn't expect you to survive after I pierced your chest."
Narrowing his eyes, Obito glanced at the mark on Kakashi's forehead and scoffed.
"It's just borrowed power."
Classic case of sour grapes.
Obito knew he was jealous. He envied Kakashi's life and the external power he had gained. After all, they were both relying on outside forces—Obito with the Karma, Kakashi with the Sun God Seal. There wasn't much difference in principle.
But unlike Obito, who was being eroded by his power, Kakashi had only grown stronger with minimal drawbacks.
The contrast was infuriating.
Why?
Why did Kakashi get to have it all, while he didn't?
There was no point in talking anymore. Furious, Obito activated his mark.
"The shinobi era is over! Embrace the new age, Kakashi!"
Last time, their battle in Kamui space had ended in a draw, but Obito didn't believe that would happen again.
What he didn't know was that his new powers had already been uploaded to the Sun God Kingdom's intelligence network—his Karma abilities were completely exposed.
"Going straight to your second form? Are you aiming for a quick kill?"
Feeling the warmth of the mark on his forehead, Kakashi immediately unlocked the Sun God Seal at his level. His already high-level jōnin physical abilities were enhanced further, allowing him to keep up with Obito's speed.
With a sharp clash, their kunai collided.
Obito's eyes flashed with surprise.
Not at Kakashi's speed—by now, everyone in the shinobi world knew that a ninja with the Sun God Seal was like a different person when it was activated. The physical boost was just the baseline.
What surprised him was that the moment their weapons met, he had already activated his Karma's power, trying to shrink Kakashi's kunai.
But it didn't work.
Kakashi's kunai remained the same size.
His dojutsu had failed?!
Obito's expression darkened. He dodged Kakashi's strike and quickly retreated, his face full of uncertainty.
"A ninja is, at the core, just someone who fights using chakra. Manipulating chakra in different forms and elements to increase attack power—that's what shinobi techniques are."
"And dojutsu is simply another form of chakra manipulation. The difference in power comes down to how well a bloodline can use chakra. The better the control, the stronger the dojutsu."
Kakashi twirled his kunai and motioned for Obito to come at him, a hint of pity in his eyes.
"It's a shame. You did inherit new power, but at the end of the day, the source of your power is no match for Lord Sun God when it comes to chakra control and dojutsu priority."
It was simple logic—just like how Uchiha Shisui's Kotoamatsukami didn't work on Hyuga Hitoshi.
Hyuga Hitoshi was about to fully merge with the Golden Wheel Tenseigan, an evolved form of the Tenseigan. That meant he was naturally immune to Sukunahikona's shrinking ability.
And by logging certain dojutsu into the Sun God Seal's network, they could be "patched" into the system. Hyuga Hitoshi would then update the Sun God Seal, making it immune to those abilities.
That was why Hyuga Hitoshi saw the Golden Wheel Tenseigan as a form of evolution—it could adapt and improve itself.
The result was clear. Obito's Sukunahikona no longer worked on other people's weapons. He could still shrink himself and summon debris with Daikokuten, but he had lost one of his most effective tricks.
After testing it a few more times, Obito finally understood what was happening.
Even if he couldn't use underhanded tricks anymore, it didn't mean Obito had lost his fighting power.
The battle was about to get even more brutal—this was a fight to the death.
Neither Kakashi nor Obito held back. Both were fully relying on their external powers, using every dirty trick and lethal move they had. There was no room for pride as shinobi.
But compared to their fight, the battle between Uchiha Sasuke and Otsutsuki Kinshiki was far more spectacular.
Despite his young age, Sasuke had been raised with strict discipline and had inherited the monstrous genes of a certain prodigy. Since childhood, he had trained his lower body tirelessly under his uncle Hizashi.
And it showed.
When Kinshiki threw a punch strong enough to shatter the ground, Sasuke caught it—without moving an inch.
Not only did he hold his ground, but he also used chakra to stabilize the earth beneath him.
As Kinshiki stood there in shock, Sasuke immediately countered.
With a devastating kick—right between the legs.
This kick was anything but ordinary. Its speed alone was enough to tear through the air, but what made it even more terrifying was the flames burning around Sasuke's leg—it was none other than the Fire Release: Low Blow Kick, a Fire Release-enhanced taijutsu move!
There was never any doubt about Sasuke's talent. In the original story, sure, the "cool guy" always got beaten up before every breakthrough, but no one could deny that he was a genius when it came to ninjutsu. It was just that Naruto's protagonist aura always overshadowed him. Now, with new genetic enhancements, his potential had reached another level—he had even mastered the Fire Release Chakra Mode once wielded by the Sun God!
Right now, he could only activate this state in certain parts of his body, but he was still young. Given time, he'd surely be able to master the Lightning-Fire Chakra Mode as well.
"Mere sparks."
Kinshiki sneered, showing no concern for the incoming kick. The move might have been dirty, but as Otsutsuki Momoshiki's servant, he had trained for this kind of thing. He flexed his powerful leg muscles, attempting to stop Sasuke's attack through sheer physical strength.
Boom!
It worked!
"Never underestimate the power of the Otsutsuki, you fool!"
His trap had worked—Otsutsuki Kinshiki grinned viciously, spreading his arms wide to grab both of Sasuke's shoulders. Isshiki had said to capture the boy alive, and Momoshiki hadn't objected. That meant all he had to do was dislocate this brat's shoulders, and he'd be completely helpless. With only one leg left, there was no way he could fight back.
But.
"I never underestimate my opponents. The Sun God once said that underestimating an enemy is a sign of disrespect—not just to yourself, but to your allies and your foes as well."
Even with his shoulders restrained, Sasuke showed no panic. His gaze slowly shifted downward, locking onto Kinshiki's lower body.
The next second, a sharp, piercing sound rang out from below.
A sudden chill shot up Kinshiki's spine, and his muscles clenched instinctively. A terrifying sense of danger surged through him, and he immediately leaped backward in desperation.
But he was too slow.
From Sasuke's shin, a Chidori Sharp Spear shot out—driven by pinpoint chakra control—and Kinshiki's agonized scream followed right after.
A streak of blood flashed through the air.
Kinshiki clutched his groin in agony, his face contorted in pain.
That single, lightning-fast strike had just… completely ruined him.
If he hadn't dodged in time, the attack would have pierced straight through his head!
That was the price he paid for trying to block Uchiha Sasuke's Low Blow Kick with his legs.
Yes, this Sasuke was different from the original. He had evolved. With the power of the Byakugan, he had adopted the Sun God's and the Hyuga Clan's combat techniques. He no longer needed to rely solely on his mouth or his hands to cast ninjutsu. With the Byakugan's precise vision, he could release chakra from any point on his body, using advanced control to unleash devastating techniques.
It was a nearly unstoppable fighting style.
It worked the same way as Hyuga Hitoshi's Spiral Fist or the Hyuga Clan's Rotation technique—utilizing chakra points and the Byakugan to push their power to the absolute limit.
"You… bastard…"
He had come to Earth for no real reason. He had fought a mere child for no real reason. And now, for no real reason, he had been completely ruined.
Otsutsuki Kinshiki's face twisted in fury. His Byakugan turned bloodshot as he clenched his fists, then delivered a heavy punch straight to his own groin, trying to stop the bleeding.
Then, he looked up at Sasuke.
With a flick of his hand, a crimson katana dropped into his grasp.
Activating his divine speed technique, he shot forward in a blur.
No one needed to tell Sasuke what was happening.
Just by looking at Kinshiki, he could tell the man was completely furious. But honestly, that was fair. After all, who wouldn't be after getting neutered on the battlefield?
"But if you think you can settle this with speed alone, you're making a huge mistake."
After all, he was an Uchiha.
The moment his Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated, the streaking blur of Otsutsuki Kinshiki's movements became perfectly clear. Without hesitation, Sasuke activated the Sun God Seal.
Warm energy surged through his body, filling him with seemingly endless power.
It was a warmth he had only ever felt from his father.
And with that power, he charged straight at Kinshiki.
Two streaks of lightning—one red, one purple—raced across the battlefield, twisting and turning like twin dragons.
To the naked eye, they were impossible to track.
Only Uchiha Itachi, with his Sharingan, could see their movements clearly.
With every brief pause, he could hear Kinshiki's agonized grunts.
Even against an enemy feared by the Kara organization's leader, his brilliant younger brother was still able to push him back, forcing him to cough up blood again and again.
Sasuke…
Had he already grown this strong?
Father was right.
One day, even if he gave Sasuke his own eyes, Sasuke might reject them, seeing them as unworthy.
And just as their father had said, Sasuke had stepped onto a completely different path.
With both the Byakugan and the Sharingan, his future wasn't tied to the Eternal Mangekyou or the Rinnegan.
It was something beyond that.
A flicker of confusion crossed Itachi's face.
This… was outside his knowledge.
There were too few records about the Tenseigan.
The only certainty was that the Byakugan could evolve multiple times.
Only one person had ever done it—Hyuga Hitoshi.
Not only had he awakened a new type of eye, but he had also gained a divine golden eye.
And it was from that eye that the Sun God Seal had been granted.
"Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke…"
The battle raged on.
Kakashi and Sasuke were both fighting fiercely.
And in the middle of it all, Naruto stood, watching with burning determination, itching to jump in.
"Calm down, Naruto."
Sakura warned him carefully.
Kakashi and Sasuke were both warriors who had inherited the Sun God Seal.
Back in the Academy, Naruto had always compared himself to Sasuke.
But in reality, that comparison was meaningless.
Even though Naruto was strong, the gap between those who had the Sun God Seal and those who didn't was now impossible to ignore.
Naruto had the potential to shine in the upcoming Chunin Exams.
If he did well, he might even be granted the Sun God Seal himself.
There was no need to rush in recklessly.
Compared to these dangerous enemies, they were still just fresh Genin.
"I know it's hard to hear, but the only thing we can do right now… is stay out of their way and not drag them down."
It was the cold, hard truth.
Unlike the other Sakura, this one had no illusions about her strength.
But to Naruto, those words were nothing less than an insult—telling him that Sasuke was stronger than him.
Even if it was true, his pride as a young warrior only made him more eager to fight.
Gripping his kunai, Naruto glanced at Kakashi and Obito.
Then at Sasuke and Otsutsuki Kinshiki.
In the end, he made his choice—he was going to help Sasuke.
But just as he was about to step forward, a figure appeared beside him, pressing a hand gently on his head.
"Young one… Sometimes, holding back isn't cowardice. True strength comes from knowing when to fight and when to wait."
The warmth of that hand made Naruto look up in confusion.
There, standing before him, was a face both familiar and unfamiliar.
"F-First Hokage?"
An inexplicable sense of closeness filled Naruto's heart.
He called out in shock.
"I can feel it. There's a powerful force inside you. Part of it comes from the Nine-Tails, but there's something else too. And that energy… it feels similar to mine."
The ninja world moves in cycles. Senju Hashirama saw a reflection of himself in Naruto.
But Naruto's companion was right—at his current level, Naruto couldn't control that power. It wasn't just that fiery chakra; even the Nine-Tails alone was beyond his control.
"Be patient. Trust your comrades. He is not our true enemy."
Hashirama's expression grew serious as he shifted his gaze toward the sky. That's where the real battle would take place.
Obito and that towering, muscular man? They were just the opening act.
"One of them has familiar chakra—it should be the person who was secretly watching during the Land of Rain battle. As for the other two…"
Tobirama appeared beside Hashirama, sharing what he had sensed.
"The other two… their chakra is strange. And incredibly strong."
"I'll be blunt. Judging by chakra reserves alone, they make even you look weak, big brother."
Setting Isshiki aside, both Otsutsuki Momoshiki and Otsutsuki Urashiki had consumed Chakra Fruits, just like Kaguya.
Regular Otsutsuki members didn't have the Rinnegan, which made sense—Kinshiki only relied on taijutsu, and before Kaguya ate the Chakra Fruit, she lacked the Rinnegan too. Back then, she was weak enough to rely on sneak attacks.
Otsutsuki who have eaten Chakra Fruits are never easy to deal with. The more they consume, the more they evolve.
Otsutsuki Shibai took it even further—he refined the energy from countless Chakra Fruits into a pill and transcended dimensions to reach another world.
"That could be a problem."
Hashirama scratched his head, then suddenly grinned and turned toward the approaching Uchiha Madara.
"Looks like we'll have to team up this time, Madara."
Now that was something to look forward to.
"Without your eyes, you can't fight at full power, can you? Honestly, your revival was pointless. You're weaker like this than when you were reanimated."
Tobirama spoke coldly to Madara.
"So, should I just kill you again and bring you back with Edo Tensei?"
These two had always been at odds. But this was the middle of a battle, and Tobirama's usual sarcasm was out of place.
Before he could say more, Hashirama grabbed him by the collar and shut him up.
Not that it mattered—Madara had never taken Tobirama's words seriously, not since the Uchiha clan killed Tobirama's brothers.
Still…
"You think you've seen me at full power?"
Madara shot Tobirama a cold glance and let out a low scoff.
"Alright, alright," Hashirama sighed. "Tobirama's been a pain in the ass for years. Just ignore him."
After shutting his brother up, Hashirama now had to smooth things over with Madara.
Luckily, the tense atmosphere didn't last long.
When three figures dressed in Otsutsuki robes descended from the sky, the air grew heavy.
"One, two… a couple of insects caught in the trap. And two lowly creatures marked by fate."
Momoshiki crossed his arms, a violent glint in his eyes.
"Tsk. Seems like we've got an unexpected bonus."
Urashiki grinned, shifting his gaze toward Naruto, who was being protected by Hashirama.
Collecting scattered chakra, restoring the God Tree, and finishing what Kaguya had left undone—this was their duty as members of the Otsutsuki clan.
A new showdown was about to begin.
But just as both sides were preparing to strike, Black Zetsu suddenly emerged from the ground, holding an eye.
"Here. I told you, you should've had a proper talk with Nagato. That guy hasn't needed this for a long time. He's only lending you one as a favor for your service to the Sun God Kingdom. You'll have to figure out the other one yourself."
Black Zetsu tossed the Rinnegan to Madara and immediately burrowed back into the ground, distancing itself from the battlefield.
Seriously, why were they all so stubborn?
"Tch… that guy."
Had Nagato really changed his attitude just because of his work for the Sun God Kingdom?
Madara looked down at the Rinnegan in his hand, his expression complicated. Then, he took a deep breath.
Fine. He wouldn't let that kid's expectations go to waste.
The eye transplant was completed in an instant.
Now, with a Rinnegan in one eye and a Sharingan in the other, Madara lifted his head.
This time…
He would be the one to protect the peace of the ninja world!
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